Folded camera structure with an extended light-folding-element scanning range

Abstract

Voice coil motor (VCM) actuators for rotating an optical path folding element (OPFE) over an extended scanning range relative to a scanning/rotation range needed for optical image stabilization (OIS).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A folded digital camera comprising:
 a) an optical path folding element (OPFE) having hinges coupled thereto for folding an optical path from an imaged object or scene toward a lens and an image sensor of the folded digital camera, the folded digital camera having a field of view (FOV), wherein each hinge is nested in a respective housing of a stationary sub-assembly to form a housing-hinge pair; and 
 b) a single actuator including a single coil and single magnet for rotating the OPFE for optical image stabilization (OIS), wherein the rotation of the OPFE further enables adjustment of the FOV over an extended scanning range greater than ±8 degrees, wherein OIS is enabled over the extended scanning range with sufficient resolution provided by a degree of friction between each housing-hinge pair, and 
 wherein the sufficient resolution is at least 0.002 degrees. 
 
     
     
       2. The folded digital camera of  claim 1 , wherein the sufficient resolution is at least 0.005 degrees. 
     
     
       3. The folded digital camera of  claim 1 , wherein the extended scanning range is up to ±20 degrees around a rest position of the OPFE. 
     
     
       4. The folded digital camera of  claim 1 , wherein the extended scanning range is up to +20 degrees around a rest position of the OPFE. 
     
     
       5. The folded digital camera of  claim 2 , wherein the extended scanning range is up to ±20 degrees around a rest position of the OPFE. 
     
     
       6. The folded digital camera of  claim 1 , wherein the single actuator includes a position sensor for sensing an OPFE position relative to a stationary base of the folded digital camera. 
     
     
       7. The folded digital camera of  claim 6 , wherein the position sensor includes a Hall bar sensor. 
     
     
       8. The folded digital camera of  claim 1 , wherein the single coil and single magnet form a rotational voice coil motor (VCM) for rotating the OPFE. 
     
     
       9. The folded digital camera of  claim 8 , wherein the single magnet is mechanically coupled to the OPFE and wherein the single coil is coupled to the stationary base. 
     
     
       10. The folded digital camera of  claim 1 , wherein the single actuator includes a position sensor for sensing an OPFE position relative to a stationary base of the folded digital camera. 
     
     
       11. The folded digital camera of  claim 10 , wherein the position sensor includes a Hall bar sensor. 
     
     
       12. The folded digital camera of  claim 1 , wherein the single coil and single magnet form a rotational voice coil motor (VCM) for rotating the OPFE. 
     
     
       13. The folded digital camera of  claim 12 , wherein the single magnet is mechanically coupled to the OPFE and wherein the single coil is coupled to the stationary base. 
     
     
       14. The folded digital camera of  claim 2 , wherein the single actuator includes a position sensor for sensing an OPFE position relative to a stationary base of the folded digital camera. 
     
     
       15. The folded digital camera of  claim 14 , wherein the position sensor includes a Hall bar sensor. 
     
     
       16. The folded digital camera of  claim 2 , wherein the single coil and single magnet form a rotational voice coil motor (VCM) for rotating the OPFE. 
     
     
       17. The folded digital camera of  claim 16 , wherein the single magnet is mechanically coupled to the OPFE and wherein the single coil is coupled to the stationary base. 
     
     
       18. A method, comprising:
 a) providing a folded digital camera having an optical path folding element (OPFE) having hinges coupled thereto for folding an optical path from an imaged object or scene toward a lens and an image sensor of the folded digital camera, the folded digital camera having a field of view (FOV), wherein each hinge is nested in a respective housing of a stationary sub-assembly to form a housing-hinge pair; and 
 b) rotating the OPFE with a single actuator including a single coil and single magnet to enable optical image stabilization (OIS), wherein the rotation of the OPFE further enables adjustment of the FOV over an extended scanning range greater than ±8 degrees, wherein OIS is enabled over the extended scanning range with sufficient resolution provided by a degree of friction between each housing-hinge pair, and 
 wherein the sufficient resolution is at least 0.002 degrees. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the extended scanning range is up to ±20 degrees around a rest position of the OPFE.